Folding table construction



S. TAVE FOLDING TABLE CONSTRUCTION Aug. 15, 1944.

Filed Sept. 4, 1,943

INVENTOR. M

-'ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 15, 1944 FOLDING TABLE CONSTRUCTION Samuel Tave, Forest Hills, N. Y., assignor to Fibrcan Corporation, Whitestone, Long Island, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 4, 1943, Serial No. 501,323

2 Claims.

This invention generally relates to folding tables of the type commonly designated as card tables that comprise a top mounted on a rigid frame and swingable legs adapted to be folded within the area defined by the frame in alinement with the sides of this latter; more specifically, the invention is directed to the provision of novel means for foldably mounting the legs of the table and supporting them in their extended position when the table is in use.

The devices that have been heretofore proposed for this purpose are not entirely satisfactory for various reasons, such as comparative complication of their structure and relatively high cost of production which prevents their adoption for inexpensive card tables, or insufficiently firm support of the legs of the table, limited resistance of the mounting of the legs to the strains to which it is subjected when the table is in use, and to wear.

It is therefore the general object of this invention to provide a novel and improved mounting and lock structure for the legs of tables of the aforementioned character which is simple and economical so as to lend itself for use with tables s of inexpensive construction, while insuring proper support of the legs and being highly resistant to wear.

More particularly, the invention is directed to the provision of such a structure for attachment to the corners of the frame of the table, that comprises two members, one of which embodies means for firmly supporting the leg ofthe table for swinging movement in spaced relation to the adjacent side of the frame, while the other carries means for bracing the extended leg to prevent any objectionable lateral displacement thereof during use of the table, the two members being interconnected in a nove1 and simple manner to function substantially as a unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mounting and lock structur of the character described which requires a minimum of metal and is adapted to be readily assembled and attached to the frame of the table to swingably connect the foldable legs thereto.

These and other objects will become apparent line 2-2 of Figure 1, the leg of the table being shown in its extended or table-supporting position.

Figure 3 is a cross-section on line 33 of Figure 1, illustrating the interconnection of the bracket members forming part of the mounting device.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, wherein like characters of reference are employed to designate the similar parts in the various views, numeral Ill indicates a rigid frame consisting of elements or bars of wood joined together at right angles and supporting the table top l2, made of a suitable light material; the sides of the top material are folded downwardly along the outer faces of the fram and are fastened thereto, a metal guard l3 being applied to each of the corners of the frame. Two of the frame elements, designated as A and B in Figure 1, are shown in the drawing together with the device that forms the object of the invention, it being understood that all corners of the frame are provided with an identical structure.

A member or bracket l4, made of a strip of metal and substantially U-shaped in configuration, has a portion or leg l6 disposed along the inner face of frame element A in abutting parallel relation thereto and embodying a stamped cup-shaped portion or spacer I8 adapted to maintain the leg of the table in spaced relation to in the following description of a preferred embod- I frame element A; base 22 of bracket I4 extends at right angle with the leg [6 along frame element B and is secured thereto as by means of bolt 24. A second bracket leg 26 projects from frame element B in substantially parallel spaced relation to leg [6 and cooperates with spacer l8 to clamp therebetween table leg 20 for swinging movement in a vertical plane parallel to frame element A about a pivot screw 28 which passes through bracket leg 26 and spacer l8 for connection to frame element A, thereby fastening bracket leg 26 to said elements while serving as a pivot for the table leg 20.

As best illustrated in Figure 3, leg 26 has, at a point near base 22, a slit 32; a lip 34 formed at one end of a second metal bracket or L-shaped member 35 is inserted into slit 32 to firmly support this bracket, which is also bolted to frame element B as shown at 38. Portion 40 of bracket 36 projects from frame element B in parallel spaced relation to leg 26 of bracket 14 for swingably supporting one end of a rigid brace 42 pivotally secured thereto, as shown at 44; said brace extends obliquely from bracket portion 40 for connection to a bolt 46 passing through table leg 20, and acts to prevent objectionable lateral displacement of the leg 2i) while permitting of the swinging movement of this latter in a plane parallel to frame element A.

A foldable brace 48 located between said frame element A and the leg 20 and hinged at its ends to element A and bolt 46, respectively, serves to maintain the leg of the table in its table-supporting position, perpendicular to the top of the table, conventional means being provided in the foldable brace to prevent accidental buckling thereof and consequent collapse of the table.

It will be clear from the foregoing description that I have provided a simple and efficient device for mounting the legs of foldable tables, the spaced parallel portions of the U-shaped bracket firmly supporting the table leg for swinging movement, and the L-shaped bracket affording a convenient means for mounting a brace, the two brackets being interconnected in a novel manner to function substantially as a unit and the whole structure being adapted to be readily assembled and applied to the corners of the table frame.

While I have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a folding table, in combination with a pair of frame elements interconnected at a right angle and a table leg, a fiat strip of metal bent at right angles to form a bracket having a leg in abutting parallel relation to one of said frame elements, a base in abutting parallel relation to the other frame element and secured thereto and a second leg extending in substantially parallel relation to the first leg at a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the table leg, a pivot means for mounting the table leg for swinging movement between said bracket legs, said means having an end portion abutting against the outer face of the second of said bracket legs and passing through both bracket legs for right connection with the first-mentioned frame element, a slit in the second leg of said bracket adjacent the base of this latter, a second bracket secured to the second-mentioned frame element having a lip for engagement in said slit to interlock the brackets and a portion extending in substantially parallel spaced relation to the second leg of the first bracket, and a rigid means pivotally connected to said portion of the second bracket and fastened to the table leg for opposing lateral movement of the table leg.

2. In a folding table, in combination, with a pair of right-angled frame elements and a table leg, a flat strip of metal bent to form a bracket comprising a leg extending in abutting parallel relation to one of said frame elements and having, intermediate its ends, a laterally offset portion, a base secured to the other frame element in abutting parallel relation thereto and a second leg extending in substantially parallel relation to said laterally offset portion of the first leg at a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the table leg, pivot means extending through said offset portion and said second leg of the bracket for swingably mounting the table eg therebetween, said pivot means having an end portion abutting against the outer face of the second bracket leg and being fastened to the first mentioned frame element, a slit in the second leg of the bracket adjacent the base of this latter, an angular member secured to the last-mentioned frame element having a lip for engagement in said slit to interlock said member with the bracket, said angular member comprising a portion extending in substantially parallel spaced relation to the second leg of the bracket, and a rigid means pivotally connected to said portion of the angular member and fastened to the table leg for cpposing lateral movement of this latter.

SAMUEL TAVE. 

